Leveraging online education to make the learning process conducive for students

The education system witnessed a sea change after schools across the globe were shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to a significant rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms.

Research suggests that online learning has been shown to increase retention of information and take less time, which indicates that the changes caused by the pandemic might be here to stay. Online education is becoming the preferred option among working professionals and students pursuing higher education, as they find benefit from the autonomy and flexibility that these courses offer. Online courses can be undertaken in a way that fits their schedule, which may include a full-time job, internships and carrying out family responsibilities.

The concept of distance learning has existed since a long time, even before technological advancements made it extremely accessible and convenient. Traditional schooling is now witnessing an increased expansion of virtual training materials and online courses. With extensive schooling systems, teaching methodologies and curricula being put to test over the years, the most successful schools are the ones that adapt to the evolving times, as well as to the expectations of students, parents and the society at large. If online education is here to stay, then what are its consequences on traditional learning? Rather than listing out the pros and cons, it is imperative to understand how to leverage online education so as to make our education systems more conducive to learning.

While it is a fact that online learning makes it easy to get distracted, it also demands a greater amount of motivation and self-discipline as compared to a traditional classroom-based course. A classroom setting comprises an instructor and peers, who can hold a student responsible for their course-work. Online courses on the other hand require a person to set their own goals, track their progress and meet deadlines.

In the context of learning effectiveness in isolation, online courses tackle this by offering discussion forums and one-on-one support. The visual experience can also be enriched using technology by incorporating animations and other fun elements to render the process more interactive for effective learning and communication.

Coming to the advantage of a classroom, a school provides structure, support, and a system of rewards and punishment to mould its students. It is well known that the traditional classroom set-up provides the benefit of face-to-face interactions with peers which are typically supervised by a teacher. Particularly during the early developmental years of children, a classroom offers a stable environment for social interactions, helping them to develop skills such as boundary setting, empathy and cooperation. It also enables spontaneity, unlike a virtual learning setup.

However, as students make their way to higher classes, they seek more autonomy. Online learning thus enables them to pursue highly individualized learning programmes, possibly even higher education level courses. These, combined with hands-on activities, real world exploration, and meticulous assessments, can be highly advantageous to their learning advancement. It provides scope to explore their options by trying out introductory topics from different fields, before zeroing in on a specialization. Online learning platforms can enable students to become more independent learners, and thus prepare them better for higher education and jobs.

Considering the fact that kids of the current generation are being exposed to technology right from the beginning, it invariably means they are extremely tech-savvy. There are now a number of mobile apps available that provide enhanced learning opportunities for school kids and are being used to supplement classroom learning. Here, it becomes important for teachers and parents to act as anchors and mentors, curating the kind of educational content students are exposed to, as it is a crucial time that requires kids to explore the right career options for themselves.

Online courses also have the advantage of providing opportunities for kids hailing from weaker socio-economic backgrounds who have limited access to learning resources. It serves as a platform to connect them to a global network of online learners, thereby exposing them to new perspectives.

In summation, the pros and cons of online learning are plenty, while the traditional model of schooling remains irreplaceable for a plethora of reasons. It is thus important to wisely amalgamate the two in order to reap the benefits of both to the advantage of students.

 52,287 total views